Firearm housing assembly having three sections and an interlocking central coupling member therefor



Manama MQLHiiALETTE. JR. m1. 3512.290 Filed July 8, 1968 FIREARM HOUSING ASSEMBLY HAVING THREE SECTIONS AND AN INTERLOCKING CENTRAL COUPLING MARKER THEREFOR 2 Sheets$heet 1 R 1 m A mm" m EEM N VL R m m Ad & LR A w M we a My 19y197 0 P. A. LA VIOLETTE, JR. ETAL 3,512,290

FIREARM HOUSING ASSEMBLY HAVING THREE SECTIONS AND AN INTERLOCKING CENTRAL COUPLING MARKER THEREFOR m ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 0 "ice r 3,512,290 FIREARM HOUSING ASSEMBLY HAVING THREE SECTIONS AND AN INTERLOCKING CENTRAL COUPLING MEMBER THEREFOR Paul A. La Violette, Jr., and Edward M. Marino, North Haven, Conn., assignors to The High Standard Manufactoring Corporation, Hamden, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed July.8, 1968, Ser. No. 743,099 Int. Cl. F41c 23/00 US. C]. 42-75 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A housing for a firearm consisting of three principal sections, including a rear hollow section into which the receiver of the gun fits, and upper and lower forward sections which are joined along a plane running longitudinally of the gun. The three housing sections interlock with a central coupling member mounted firmly on the firearm near the forward end of the receiver to provide a solid central mounting point for the housing. The rear section is fixed at its back end to the rear of the receiver and is urged forwardly into engagement with the coupling member, while the front ends of the two forward sections are fixed to a rigid part of the gun along the barrel and are urged rearwardly against the coupling member, thereby providing solid mounting points at both the front and rear of the housing and at the same time forcing the housing sections toward the middle into rigid engagement with the coupling member to make a unitary housing assembly.

This invention relates to firearms and it relates more particularly to housings for substantially completely enclosing the receiver and breech portions of a gun, as well as other parts along the gun barrel, such as a tubular magazine or gasvoperating mechanism for an automatic firearm.

Conventional firearms which are intended to be fired from the shoulder have been provided with various standard parts for preventing contact with portions of the gun when it is being fired or handled. For example, the forehand of a rifle or shotgun encloses a portion of the gun below the barrel and provides a grip for the hand that supports the barrel end of the gun. The butt-stock provides a support for the other end of the gun that rests against the shooters shoulder. Sometimes the butt-stock and forehand are combined in one piece, which extends along the entire under side of the firearm cradling the receiver and rear portion of the barrel in an elongated, hollowed-out depression in its upper side, which is formed to receive and firmly support the receiver-barrel assembly of the gun.

In military firearms, especially those which fire rapidly byautomatic action, various housings have been devised which protect the shooter and at the same time provide adequate cooling of the barrel. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a housing for a firearm, including the receiver and at least part of the barrel, which substantially completely encloses these parts, is lightweight but rugged in construction and is easy to assemble yet, when assembled, becomes a rigid, unitary part of the gun. Another object of the invention is to provide such a housing that is made of a sufiiciently tough material, as for example a fiber glass-reinforced synthetic resin, that can be molded in thin-walled sections and still be virtually unbreakable under severe blows and shock.

Broadly the present invention resides in the provision of. rear and front housing parts or sections which are 3,512,290 Patented May 19, 1970 'into'the receiver at one end and magazine tube or other rigid part of the action at the other, the housing sections are properly aligned and form a solid, unitary assembly.

One embodiment of the invention is disclosed for illustrative purposes in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a firearm provided with a housing assembly in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section through the firearm shown in FIG. 1 with the internal parts shown in full size elevation except for certain portions which have been partially broken away to expose portions of the housing that are located behind;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the upper forward section of the housing;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the lower forward section of the housing with the trigger and sear connector assembled therein;

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are enlarged fragmentary cross-sections of the interlocking mating edges of the housing sections taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 4, on the line '7--7 of FIG. 5 and on the line 88 of FIG. 1, respectively;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view through the firearm taken on the line 9--9 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged rear end view of the coupling member for interlocking the housing sections; and

FIG. 11 is a front end view of the coupling member shown in FIG. 10.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to FIGS. 1 to 3, the invention may be employed in connection with the basic components for a conventional firearm, including a receiver 10 and barrel 12 rigidly mounted in the receiver and projecting forwardly therefrom. In the example shown purely for illustrative purposes, the firearm is a gas-operated shotgun, having a tubular magazine 14, which is mounted rigidly at its rear end in receiver 10 and extends forwardly along the underside of barrel 12. The magazine 14, which for purposes of the present invention may be considered to be an integral portion of the firearm rigid with the barrel and receiver, is mounted near its front end in a cylindrical bracket 16 that is fixed to the under side of barrel 12. A coil spring 18 encircling magazine 14 operates to close the action of the gun when the bolt is retracted. The receiver 10 houses the firing mechanism and cartridge loading mechanism, all of which are old in the art as illustrated by the patent to Hillberg 2,909,101.

Ordinarily the mechanism just described is provided with a trigger guard in which the trigger is mounted, a butt-stock at the rear of the receiver and a forehand portion, which is mounted at the front end of the receiver and surrounds the tubular magazine and action-return spring. These parts have been eliminated in accordance with the present invention, and in their place is provided a three-piece housing which almost completely encases the working parts of the firearm. The three-piece housing consists of a hollow rear section 20 which encloses the receiver 10, an upper forward section 22 and a lower forward section 24, the two forward sections together enclosing the tubular magazine 14 and rear portion of the barrel 12 adjacent thereto.

The rear section is open at its front end so that it can be slipped like a glove endwise over the rear end of receiver 10 into close-fitting engagement therewith as shown in FIG. 3. The upper forward section 22, which in this instance carries a search-light case 26 and handle portion 28 both integrally formed with its top wall 30, has side walls 32, 32 which depend from the top wall along opposite sides of barrel 12 to form a downwardly facing dish-shaped chamber 34. The lower forward housing section 24 is provided along its bottom wall 36 with a pistol grip 38 and trigger guard 40, both integrally formed, as by molding, with the bottom wall 36. Projecting upward from the bottom wall 36 of the lower section 24 are lower side walls 42, 42, the upper edges of which mate with the lower edges of side walls 32, 32 of the upper section 22 along a horizontal plane AA (FIG. 8) which passes through the longitudinal central axis of the tubular magazine 14. The bottom wall 36 and lower sidewalls 42, 42 of the lower section 24 form between them an upwardly facing dish-shaped chamber 45.

As best seen in FIGS. 48 the upper edges of the sidewalls 42, 42 of the lower section 24 are provided with longitudinally extending grooves 46, 46 which receive elongated tongues 48, 48 extending along the under edges of the upper side walls 32, 32. The mating edges of the sidewalls of the upper and lower forward sections 22 and 24 are therefore held in alignment with each other when these two parts of the housing are assembled. The front ends of the upper and lower sections 22 and 24 are provided with semi-cylindrical supporting portions 50 and 52, respectively, which encircle and engage the front end of the magazine tube 14. Tube 14 passes through and is rigidly held in the bracket 16 that is fixed to the underside of barrel 12. The supporting portion 50 of the upper section 22 of the housing fits around the upper side of the tube 14, while the corresponding portion 52 of the lower housing section 24 embraces the lower side of the tube 14. The two semicylindrical portions 50 and 52 of the two forward sections of the housing have conically tapered outer surfaces that are engaged by an internally tapered surface of an assembly cap 54 that fits over and captures the portions 50, 52 so that they are held securely in place. A mounting screw 56 passes freely through a hole in the end of cap 54 into threaded engagement with a plug rigidly mounted in the front end of tube 14. By tightening down on screw 56 cap 54 is forced rearward over the tapered ends of the supporting portions 50, 52 pressing them firmly into engagement with each other and with the tube 14 of the firearm. A shoulder strap mounting ring 58 may also be fastened as illustrated in FIG. 3 to the end of the magazine tube by means of mounting screw 56.

Since it is desirable to reduce the weight of the housing as much as possible while at the same time make it substantially indestructible, the three housing sections 20, 22 and 24 may be made of a tough synthetic resin reinforced with glass fiber, using molding techniques now available that render it virtually unnecessary to perform any secondary operations, such as trimming or machining. Such material can be molded in sections having comparatively thin walls, which make them lightweight, while providing sufiicient strength and toughness to withstand any heavy blows to which the housing is likely to be subjected. However, because of the reduced wall thickness of the housing sections they are necessarily somewhat flexible. Consequently, the housing must be properly interlocked along the mating edges of the sections to ensure that the walls of the housing are aligned correctly and can not become dislodged when once assembled.

In order to ensure their rigidity and strength, the two forward sections are provided with suitable internal ribs, which are integrally formed along their inner surfaces. As may be seen in FIGS. 3-5, the upper section 22 has a plurality of cross ribs 60 extending down the side walls 32, 32 and across the top 34, while the lower section 24 has a matching number of cross ribs 62. An opening 64 is provided in the front end of the upper section 22 for the barrel 12 between the search-light casing 26 and magazine support portion 50. The muzzle end of barrel 12 extends forwardly through opening 64 as shown in FIG. 3.

Intermediate the rear section 20 and the two forward sections 22 and 24 is provided a coupling member 66, into which the three housing sections lock. Coupling 66 not only locks the three sections of the housing together into a single, integrated unit, but also securely supports and fastens the two forward sections on the receiver and barrel assembly of the gun near a central portion there of. Coupling 66 is a horseshoe-shaped member with the free ends of its arms 68, 70 embracing the breech end of the gun barrel 12, the inner surfaces of arms 68, 70 being contoured to fit snugly against the barrel. A bridge portion 72 of coupling 66 extends between arms 68 and 70 to form a circular opening 74, through which the magazine tube 14 is inserted before it enters receiver 10. The rear side 76 of coupling 66 is urged rearwardly against the front face of receiver 10 by the action-return spring 18, one end of which rests against the front side 78 of the coupling. Coupling 66 is accordingly immovably supported by the receiver-barrel assembly, by engagement of the magazine tube 14 in the circular opening 74, through engagement with the face of the receiver on one side, and by engagement of its arms 68 and 70 with barrel 12 in order to positively prevent it from rotating about tube 14.

As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, the free ends of arms 68 and 70 of coupling 66 do not exetend to the top wall 30 of the upper forward section 22 or to the roof 80 of the rear section 20, but stop short thereof, both ends being squared off Hat on top. An extension 82 of the top wall 30 of the forward section 22 projects rearward over the squared ends of coupling 66 into interlocking engagement with the roof 80 of the rear section 22. The front side 78 of coupling 66 is provided with a U-shaped groove 84 extending from near the free end of arm 68 down around the bend of the horseshoe-shaped coupling and up its other arm 70 (see FIG. 11). Groove 84 receives a plurality of elongated locking tabs or tongues located on the rear edges of the two forward sections 22 and 24. Thus, tabs 86, 86 on side walls 32, 32 of the upper forward section fit within the upwardly projecting portions of groove 84, while a semicircular tongue 88 extending along the rear edge of the lower forward section 24 fits within the bend of groove 84. An arcuate tab 90 on the upwardly rounded extension 82 of the upper housing section 22 fits within an internal recess 92 in the front edge of the curved roof portion 80 of the rear section 20 at the point of engagement between the sections 20 and 22 (see FIGS. 3 and 9).

Spaced inwardly from the outer surface of coupling 66 and on the rear side 76 thereof are formed three elongated grooves and a pair of locking tabs, all disposed endto-end along the U-shaped end surface of the coupling, as best seen in FIG. 10. One groove 94 is disposed along the upper extent of arm 68 of the coupling and receives a locking tab 96 (FIG. 9) on the front edge of the rear hollow section 20. Immediately below groove 94 is provided a short rearwardly projecting tab 98 which fits into an internal recess 100 in the rear section 20. Recess 100 opens at the front edge of the section 20 to receive the tab 98 when the coupling 66 is in assembled position. The opposite arm 70 of the coupling 66 is provided on its rear face with elongated grooves 102 and 104 which receive corresponding locking tabs 106 and 108 on the front edge of the rear section of the housing. An arcuate tab 110 adjacent the curved bottom side of the coupling member rests on the upwardly facing bottom wall of the rear section 20'. A pair of notches 112, 112 are formed in the outer surface of coupling 66, one on each side of the arcuate tab 110. Notches 112, 112 provide passage forrods which link the trigger 114 and firing mechanism in the receiver 10, asmore fully described hereinafter.

The hollow rear. section 20 of the housing is closed at the; back by a wall 116 which has a circular opening 118 thatreceives a cylindrical bearing boss 120 on a shoulder-support swivel 122. A mounting bolt 124 has a cylindrical shank 126, that fits through a central passage in the boss 120, and a threaded end portion 128 which is reduced in diameter to form a shoulder 125 with the shank 126. When bolt 124 is inserted through swivel 122 and threaded into an internally threaded hole 130 (FIG. 2) in the rear end of receiver 10 until its shoulder 125 is brought up into rigid engagement therewith, rearhousing section 20. is held firmly in close-fitting engagement with the receiver and in interlocking relation at its front end with coupling 66 and housing section 22. At the same time shoulder 125 prevents the swivel 122 from becoming solid with the housing section 20. A spring washer 132 is inserted between the rear wall 116 of housing section 20 and the shoulder swivel 122 to restrain, without positively preventing, pivotal movement of the swivel 122 about the mounting bolt 124. In order to avoid interference with the operation of the trigger 114 which is connected with the firing mechanism in the receiver, care should be taken to. provide suflicient clearance between the rear wall 116 of the housing and swivel 122, such that tightening of the mounting bolt 124 does not force the whole housing forward with respect to the receiver, as this will cause the trigger to bind.

The rear housing section 20 is formed along one side with an elongated opening 134 which coincides with the ejection port 136 of receiver 10 and extends both rearwardly and downwardly thereof, in order to permit ejection ofthe cartridge cases from the receiver, as well as to provide access for manual operation of the breech bolt of the gun by means of a retracting lever 138. In order to protect the shooter, whose face in this particular type of gun is located alongside the receiver, but on the side opposite from the ejection port, instead of to the rear of the, receiver, as in conventional shoulder arms, a flash shield 140 (FIGS. 2 and 9) is formed as an integral part of the hollow rear section 20. Shield 140 extends outwardly to the side of the receiver at the top of the section 20 and along the upper edge of the elongated opening 134 thereof. In addition, the underside of the rear section 20 of the housing is provided with an opening 141, through which cartridges are loaded into the rear end of the tubular magazine 14.

In order to permit operation of the firing mechanism by the shooter in the usual manner with the index finger of the same hand by which he grasps the pistol grip 38, the, trigger 114 is mounted in the lower forward section 24 of the housing so that its finger piece is located within the trigger guard 40. Trigger 114 is in this instance mounted for rectilinear or sliding movement, and is confined by a pair of transverse retaining pins 142 and 143, which are fixed at their ends in the housing section. Pin 142 passes through an elongated slot 144 in the trigger, thereby limiting the travel of the trigger. Extending rearwardly from trigger 114 is a rod 146 that fits through a slot 147 in one of the ribs 62a of the reinforcing ribs 62 in the housing section 24 and is rigidly fixed, as by brazing, to the, center of a cross bar 148 (FIG. at the forward end of a dual-rod sear connector 150, which extends rearwardlyl; into operating engagement with a sear 152 projecting below the underside of receiver in the position where the trigger is normally located in a conventional shoulder arm. A rear cross bar 154 of the sear connector 150 is received within a slot 156 in sear 152 and locked in place by a screw 157.

As trigger 114 is retracted the sear 152 is pivoted in a clockwise direction as shown in FIG. 3 to release hammer 158. A trigger-and-sear return-spring 160 is provided on the rod 146 of the sear connector between the rear end of the trigger and a stop washer 161 which engages the front side of the reinforcing rib 62a in the housing section. Spring returns the trigger to its normal forward position and at the same time rotates sear 152 into cocking relation with the hammer 158.

The search-light housing 26 encloses convention-a1 flashlight batteries (not shown), and a focusing lens hood 162 is threaded to the forward end of the housing. A rotary switch-actuating collar 164 is provided behind the lens hood 162. Collar 164 is arranged to rotate through a few degrees of arc about the longitudinal axis of the flashlight. At desired points during such rotary movement contact is made and broken in the light circuit for turning the light on and off. A fiat narrow ridge 166 on top of the search-light housing 26 and handle portion 28 of the housing provides a rough line of sight for aiming the gun.

What is claimed is:

1. In a firearm having a receiver, a barrel rigidly mounted on said receiver extending forwardly therefrom and a firing mechanism in said receiver, a housing therefor comprising in combination:

(a) a hollow rear section, an upper forward section and a lower forward section, said rear section substantially completely enclosing said receiver, While said upper and lower forward sections are disposed forward of said rear section longitudinally of said firearm and together enclose at least a portion of said firearm forward of said receiver,

(b) said upper forward section being dish-shaped downwardly and said lower forward section being dishshaped upwardly and in mating engagement with said upper section,

(0) at least one of said forward sections having a portion adjacent its forward end in supporting engagement with a part rigid with the barrel of said firearm,

(d) a coupling member fixedly mounted on a portion of said firearm rigid with said barrel and receiver centrally thereof and interposed between said rear section and said forward sections, the rear surfaces of said coupling member being shaped to accommodate at least a portion of the forward end of said rear section in mating engagement therewith and the front surfaces of said coupling member being formed to accommodate the rear ends of said forward sections in mating engagement therewith,

(e) said rear section, coupling member and forward sections having means for interlocking with each other along their mating surfaces,

(f) an assembly member having means for retaining the front ends of said upper and lower section in mating engagement with each other,

(g) means for fastening said rear section to said receiver and for urging said rear section forwardly into mating engagement with said coupling member, and

(h) means for fastening said forward sections to a forward portion of said firearm rigid with said barrel and for urging said forward sections rearwardly against said coupling member,

(i) both said fastening means locking said sections into said central coupling member and to said receiver and barrel in a rigid, unitary assembly.

2. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein said coupling member is provided with inner surfaces in supporting engagement with said barrel.

3. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein said means for interlocking said rear section, coupling memher and forward sections comprises tongue-and-groove means in the mating surfaces of said sections and coupling member.

4. The combination defined in claim 3, wherein said coupling member is horseshoe-shaped with the inner base portion thereof in supporting engagement with a part of said firearm which is rigid with said receiver and barrel,

said coupling member having upwardly projecting arms terminating short of the upper surfaces of said rear section and upper forward section, said upper forward sec tion having a rearwardly extending projection which overlies the upper ends of said arms of said coupling member and interlockingly engages said rear section.

5. The combination defined in claim 3, wherein said rear section is closed at its rear end, said receiver fitting snugly within said rear section, and Which further includes a shoulder support mounted at the rear end of said rear section.

6. The combination defined in claim 4, which further includes a trigger mounted in the lower forward section and a sear connector extending rearwardly from said trigger and operatively connects said trigger with the firing mechanism of said firearm.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner C. T. JORDAN, Assistant Examiner 

